The Ninilchik boys toppled Cook Inlet Academy for the first time in three years Tuesday night at CIA, using a strong first-half effort to notch a 57-41 win.
The last time the Wolverines came out winners against the Eagles, Ninilchik senior Sam Mireles was a freshman. Tuesday, Mireles came up big with 22 points, many as a result of pinpoint assists from teammates that resulted in acrobatic layups.
“We locked down on defense like our coach showed us,” Mireles explained. “We locked down and when (CIA) tried to run their plays, they just ran out the clock on themselves.”
Ninilchik sophomore Austin White — a key big man for the Wolverines — added 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyler Presley chipped in 13 as well.
“It’s a big win for sure,” said Ninilchik coach Nickolas Finley. “It’s always tough to play CIA, they’re well-coached. Justin (Franchino) does a great job with them, and they’re always going to throw something different at you.”
Ninilchik (2-1 overall) used gritty defensive play to keep CIA (2-3) off balance for most of the game. After starting on an 11-4 run, CIA was held scoreless while Ninilchik scored 17 unanswered points from 1 minute, 25 seconds, left in the first quarter to 5:08 left in the second. The Eagles also featured a starting lineup without Timmy Smithwick, who did not play the first half due to a coaching decision.
“We took the first two weeks of practice this year and didn’t touch a basketball,” Finley said. “We worked on defense and conditioning, and it showed.”
Smithwick led CIA with 12 points — all in the second half — while teammates David Barlow and Andrew Hammond added 10 apiece.
Franchino said turnovers cost his team in the first half, while lack of execution was the determining factor in the second.
“Ninilchik’s a good team, but they’re not sixteen points better than us,” Franchino said about the halftime deficit. “But we had built a hole. That was a winnable game, but we did not execute properly, we continued to make poor decisions on offense and we got out of position on defense.”
The Eagles committed 16 first-half turnovers, but managed to clean it up in the second with only four. Twenty of Ninilchik’s 30 first-half points were due to offensive rebounds and CIA turnovers.
Ninilchik led 30-16 at the half, and extended it with a few big buckets from Mireles to 41-20 with 4:08 to go in the third quarter, but CIA attempted to rally back late in the period with a few clutch 3-pointers. Smithwick drained a trey with 1:34 remaining that closed the deficit to 41-28.
White, who stands 6-foot-8 for Ninilchik, garnered a lot of attention from CIA, which allowed Mireles and Presley to get better looks at the basket.
“They were double- and triple-teaming him at times, so we used him more to spread the floor,” Finley said. “Sam took advantage of that. He stepped in there and took shots.”
CIA made one final push midway through the fourth quarter, cutting the lead from 18 points to 10 with 3:55 remaining on the heels of a pair of breakaway layups by Smithwick and Andrew Hammond, but the Wolverines put the icing on the cake with two layups from Mireles.
“Going into the game, our game plan was already set on (Smithwick), so as soon as he was back in, it was like all right, let’s go,” Finley said. “We did a good job.”
Ninilchik will move on to play Wasilla Lake on Thursday, and will travel to Seldovia on Friday in a rematch of a 57-54 loss last week. CIA will play Wasilla Lake on Saturday.
CIA girls 40, Ninilchik 17
The Eagles eased to a conference victory over the Wolverines on the strength of 26 combined points from Danielle Hills and Ashleigh Hammond.
The Eagles led 18-9 early in the third quarter, then proceeded to score 19 unanswered points to ice the game early.
“I wish I could tell you exactly what happened,” said CIA coach Kenny Leaf. “Danielle just came alive in the third quarter.”
Hills, a sophomore, chipped in nine of the team’s points during the run, including a few timely jump shots, to end with 13 total. Hammond also had 13 points, and freshman Madeline Carey added six.
“(Hills) was in a little of a mismatch, and we told the girls to watch for that,” Leaf added. “She’s very quick, and very strong on the boards. She’s our leading rebounder.”
After leading 10-2 at the end of the opening quarter, CIA (3-1) was held to eight points by Ninilchik, which led to an 18-7 halftime lead.
But from the 7:10 mark of the third quarter to 6:22 of the fourth, the home-court Eagles owned the next nine field goals to bust the game wide open.
Leaf said the Wolverines figured out CIA’s defensive press in the second quarter, but were stymied in the third.
Jordan Finney topped Ninilchik with nine points, while Olivia Delgado and Krista Sinclair added four apiece.
“We’re a team that still doesn’t know how to play together, and CIA is faster than we are,” said Ninilchik coach Rod Van Saun.
Ninilchik (2-1) also did not play any games in December while most of the rest of the state was. The Wolverines opened their season a week ago with a pair of games against Seldovia and the Nikiski JV.
“Those early games really help,” Van Saun said. “It teaches you what you need to learn in practice. This was a good game for us to learn.”
Soldotna girls 35, Homer 24
The visiting Stars avenged a loss at the Kenai River Challenge earlier this season by topping the Mariners in a nonconference affair Tuesday.
Soldotna started particularly strong on defense, taking a 14-4 lead after one quarter and a 21-6 lead at halftime.
Hayley Ramsell scored 10 points to pace the Stars, while Haley Miller and Lindsey Wong each pitched in eight.
For the Mariners, Aurora Waclawski led the way with eight points.
Soldotna boys 53, Homer 46
The visiting Stars held off the Mariners for a nonconference victory Tuesday.
Soldotna led 17-13 after one quarter and 31-22 at halftime, but Homer stormed back in the third quarter, cutting the gap to 37-34. However, the Stars re-established order in the fourth quarter.
Brooks Furlong paced the Stars with 16 points, while Nate Spence chipped in 12.
For Homer, Sheldon Hutt had 15 points, while Kenneth Schneider dropped in 10 before fouling out.
Seward girls 25, Kenai 23
The host Seahawks turned back the Kardinals in a defensive struggle Tuesday in nonconference play.
Seward’s Jasmine Perea led all scorers with 18 points. Kenai’s top scorer was Allie Ostrander with five points.
Seward boys 59, Kenai 37
Michael Wolfe had a monster game, and the host Seahawks had a monster third quarter, in streaking to a nonconference victory over the Kardinals on Tuesday.
Wolfe had 30 points on the night, including four 3-pointers. Ten of his points came in the third quarter, when the Seahawks outscored the Kards 24-6 to take a 51-25 lead.
Austin McKee paced the Kardinals with six points.
Nikolaevsk girls 38, Nikiski C 16
The host Warriors cruised to a nonconference victory over the Bulldogs C-team on Tuesday.
Nikolaevsk had a 7-3 lead after the first quarter, but led 23-7 by the half.
Serafima Kalugin had 13 points for the Warriors, while Megan Hickman added 12. Rylee Jackson paced the Nikiski C-team with six.
Nikolaevsk boys 49, Nikiski JV 15
The host Warriors were in total control in notching a nonconference victory over the Bulldogs C-team on Tuesday.
Nikolaevsk led 30-2 after one quarter. Nikit Fefelov and Neil Gordeev each had 14 points to lead the Warriors, while Kalenik Molodih added 10.
For Nikiski, Tyler Litke led the way with five points.
Tuesday
BOYS
Wolverines 57, Eagles 41
Ninilchik 11 19 13 14 —57
CIA 11 5 14 11 —41
NINILCHIK (57) — Appelhanz 2 2-2 7, Presley 6 0-0 13, Mireles 9 2-3 22, Geppert 1 0-0 2, Bartolowits 0 0-0 0, White 6 1-2 13. Totals 22 5-7 57.
CIA (41) — A. Hammond 4 2-2 10, B. Hammond 0 2-2 2, R. Smithwick 2 1-2 7, Miller 0 0-0 0, Barlow 4 0-0 10, J. Smithwick 0 0-2 0, T. Smithwick 4 1-2 12. Totals 14 6-10 41.
3-point field goals — Ninilchik 2 (Presley 1, Appelhanz 1); CIA 7 (T. Smithwick 3, Barlow 2, R. Smithwick 2). Fouled out — none.
Warriors 49, Bulldogs C 15
Nikiski 2 5 4 4 —15
Nikolaevsk 30 17 10 2 —59
NIKISKI C (15) — Wallis 0 0-0 0, Perry 2 0-0 4, McCollum 0 0-0 0, Litke 2 1-2 5, Hensley 1 0-0 2, Okamoto 0 0-0 0, Cutsforth 0 0-0 0, Bruce 0 0-0 0, Braswell 1 0-0 2, Foultne 0 0-0 0, Sepeda 1 0-0 2. Totals — 7 1-2 15.
NIKOLAEVSK (59) — K. Molodih 4 2-3 10, Trail 1 0-2 2, Whaley 1 0-0 2, Yakunin 0 0-0 0, N. Fefelov 6 0-0 14, Gordeev 7 0-0 14, F. Molodih 4 0-0 8, J. Fefelov 3 0-3 6, Kalugin 1 1-2 3. Totals — 25 3-10 59.
3-point goals — Nikolaevsk 2 (N. Fefelov 2). Team fouls — Nikiski 9, Nikolaevsk 3. Fouled out — none.
Seahawks 59, Kardinals 37
Kenai 10 9 6 12 —37
Seward 14 13 24 8 —59
KENAI CENTRAL (37) — Theisen 1 2-2 4, Ivy 2 0-0 5, McKee 3 0-0 6, Brazell 1 0-0 2, Tr. Landry 0 0-0 0, Ta. Landry 1 2-2 4, Jackman 2 0-0 4, Vest 2 1-2 5, Foree 1 0-0 2, Dye 0 0-0 0, Wortham 2 1-3 5. Totals — 16 6-9 37.
SEWARD (59) — Jacobson 0 0-0 0, Berry 1 1-3 3, Marshall 2 2-2 8, A. Pahno 2 2-5 6, Zweifel 0 0-0 0, Brewi 0 0-0 0, Estes 0 0-0 0, Wolfe 10 6-6 30, Sieverts 2 0-0 4, N. Pahno 0 0-3 0, DeBoard 0 0-0 0, Jackson 3 2-3 8. Totals — 20 13-22 59.
3-point goals — Kenai 1 (Ivy 1); Seward 6 (Wolfe 4, Marshall 2). Team fouls — Kenai 20, Seward 10. Fouled out — none.
Stars 53, Mariners 46
Soldotna 17 14 6 16 —53
Homer 13 9 12 12 —46
SOLDOTNA (53) — Kuntz 2 0-0 6, Weltzin 2 2-4, Furlong 5 3-3 16, Spence 5 2-5 12, Duke 1 0-0 2, Gibbs 0 2-2 2, Fowler 4 0-0 9. Totals — 19 9-14 53.
HOMER (46) — B. Beachy 3 0-0 6, Reutov 2 0-0 4, Schneider 3 2-2 10, Nelson 2 0-0 4, Brown 1 2-4 4, Tedesco 0 1-2 1, Trowbridge 1 0-0 2, Hutt 6 2-3 15. Totals — 18 7-11 46.
3-point goals — Soldotna 5 (Kuntz 2, Furlong 2, Fowler); Homer 3 (Schneider 2, Hutt). Team fouls — Soldotna 13, Homer 15. Fouled out — Schneider.
GIRLS
Eagles 40, Wolverines 17
CIA 10 8 17 5 —40
Ninilchik 2 5 2 8 —17
CIA (40) — DeLon 0 0-0 0, Carey 3 0-0 6, Taplin 0 0-0 0, Hills 6 1-3 13, Brush 1 0-0 2, Lyons 1 0-0 2, Hammond 6 0-0 13, Orth 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 1-3 40.
NINILCHIK (17) — Delgado 1 2-2 4, Appelhanz 0 0-0 0, Cooper 0 0-0 0, Sinclair 2 0-0 4, Goins 0 0-0 0, Finney 4 1-4 9, Clark 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 3-6 17.
3-point field goals — CIA 1 (Hammond). Fouled out — none.
Warriors 38, Bulldogs C 16
Nikiski 3 4 6 3 —16
Nikolaevsk 7 16 7 8 —38
NIKISKI C (16) — Yamaguchi 0 0-0 0, Jensen 0 0-0 0, E. Tiner 0 0-0 0, Epperheimer 0 0-2 0, A. Tiner 0 0-0 0, Jackson 3 0-2 6, Litzen 1 1-2 3, Porter 1 3-6 5, Feltman 1 0-0 2. Totals — 6 4-12 16.
NIKOLAEVSK (38) — Ki. Klaich 2 3-6 7, Kr. Klaich 1 0-0 2, Fefelov 2 0-0 4, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Kalugin 6 1-2 13, Gordeev 0 0-0 0, Dorvall 0 0-0 0, Hickman 3 6-10 12, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals — 14 10-18 38.
3-point goals — none. Team fouls — Nikiski 12, Nikolaevsk 12. Fouled out — none.
Seahawks 25, Kardinals 23
Kenai 8 3 5 7 —23
Seward 8 5 4 8 —25
KENAI CENTRAL (23) — Ostrander 2 0-0 5, Holmes 0 0-0 0, Drury 1 0-0 2, Steinbeck 2 0-0 4, Barcus 1 2-6 4, Beck 1 2-3 4, Every 1 2-2 4. Totals — 8 6-11 23.
SEWARD (25) — Anderson 0 0-0 0, Honebein 1 0-4 2, Jackson 0 0-1 0, Lapinskas 0 0-0 0, Perea 7 4-6 18, Clemens 2 1-2 5. Totals — 10 5-13 25.
3-point goals — Kenai 1 (Ostrander 1). Team fouls — Kenai 14, Seward 13. Fouled out — Holmes.
Stars 35, Mariners 24
Soldotna 14 7 6 8 —35
Homer 4 2 10 8 —24
SOLDOTNA (35) — Nelson 3 0-1 6, Shaw 1 0-0 2, Jackson 0 1-2 1, Wong 3 2-2 8, Ramsell 4 2-2 10, Miller 4 0-6 8, Glaves 0 0-0 0. Totals — 15 5-13 35.
HOMER (24) — Alexander 1 1-2 3, Clark 0 0-0 0, Akers 3 0-3 6, Fellows 1 1-2 3, Waclawski 3 2-2 8, Stafford 1 0-0 3, Fairbanks 0 0-0 0, Kann 0 0-0 0, Hendrickson 0 1-4 1. Totals — 9 6-13 24.
3-point goals — Homer 1 (Stafford). Team fouls — Soldotna 17, Homer 16. Fouled out — none.
